Because You Asked - I Want to Believe

Because You Asked - I Want to Believe
As I check out the playoff games that hold my attention for one or two innings, my thumb pressed on the remote at all times with the exception of bathroom breaks, I never lose focus on my responsibilities on the Orioles beat. The mailbag fills up and it's my duty to sort through it, count the duplicate questions and wonder what else I could have done to close the topics. This is another sequel, which also makes me wonder how much longer I can come up with new names. Can't top "Electric...
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More on Means and the Orioles rotation

More on Means and the Orioles rotation
The final game of the season hadn't reached its strange conclusion - a bouncing single into right field at Fenway Park allowing a runner to score from first base because ... you had to be there - and a topic already came up among some writers regarding opening day 2020. Who's the top candidate to start? Of course, we knew that it was much too early to collect the votes. We also knew that the dozens of Dunkin' Donuts boxes behind the press box weren't going to lower our blood sugar counts,...
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Digging into Orioles' past

Digging into Orioles' past
Has any team with 100-plus losses tied or set more positive records than the 2019 Orioles? The season will go down as one of the oddest in franchise history. It was many things - boring not among them. Here's one of the nuggets that left me shaking my head: Ten players hit 10 or more home runs to tie the record shared by the 1998 and 2000 teams. Maybe you would have expected Trey Mancini, Renato Núñez and Jonathan Villar to do it. Perhaps you were bold enough to project that Anthony...
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Alberto in arbitration adds to his story

Alberto in arbitration adds to his story
The bizarre and unexpected story of Orioles infielder Hanser Alberto includes how he's first-time eligible for arbitration. And how that's actually an interesting development. Alberto made $578,000 this season and you can say he earned it. Lost and reclaimed via waivers in spring training, Alberto appeared in 139 games with the Orioles and that alone is a stunner. He wasn't supposed to beat out veteran Alcides Escobar for a utility infield job until he did. Jack Reinheimer and Zach Vincej...
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Is Mallee a candidate to join Orioles?

Is Mallee a candidate to join Orioles?
The Orioles handled the task this week of notifying three coaches that they wouldn't have their contracts renewed for the 2020 season. The first steps toward making changes. Steps that were bound to happen, though the challenge was identifying the impacted members of the staff. Up next are interviews with candidates that should begin in a couple of days. A procedure that's keeping manager Brandon Hyde in Baltimore. What's known at the present time is that first base coach/outfield instructor...
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Orioles decline to renew contract of bullpen coach John Wasdin

Orioles decline to renew contract of bullpen coach John Wasdin
The Orioles made a third and perhaps final change to their coaching staff this afternoon. Bullpen coach John Wasdin has been notified that he won't be invited back in 2020, according to a source. Wasdin, 47, joins first base coach/outfield instructor Arnie Beyeler and assistant hitting coach Howie Clark, who learned yesterday that their contracts wouldn't be renewed. All three coaches were working on one-year deals after the Orioles hired Brandon Hyde as manager in December. Adjustments to...
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Beyeler and Clark won't return to Orioles coaching staff in 2020

Beyeler and Clark won't return to Orioles coaching staff in 2020
The Orioles started to make changes to their coaching staff this afternoon. First base coach Arnie Beyeler and assistant hitting coach Howie Clark won't be retained in 2020, according to multiple industry sources. They were working on one-year contracts that won't be renewed next season. Beyeler also served as the outfield instructor, handling two tasks that belonged to Wayne Kirby under previous manager Buck Showalter. Kirby has been hired by the Braves as minor league outfield...
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Mancini, mysteries and minors

Mancini, mysteries and minors
Moving past the final game of the season allowed players to take a much-needed break from baseball. But for how long? It's going to vary depending on the individual and his circumstances. "I think it's important to take some time off," said Trey Mancini. "I'm going to take a lot of time off from baseball. Not hit. But certainly I don't sit on the couch for the first few weeks of the offseason, either." (Is that frowned upon? Because I intend to set a land speedless record while doing...
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Núñez made it easy to slot him as designated hitter in 2020

Núñez made it easy to slot him as designated hitter in 2020
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wasn't ready last month to hand Austin Hays the center field job on opening day. No amount of prodding from the media was going to soften his stance. It was too soon to begin construction of a 26-man roster to be unveiled in late March. The story is the same regarding Renato Núñez. Hyde won't say that Núñez is going to be the primary designated hitter next season. But he speaks as if Núñez is on the team. "I think it's way too soon to think...
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Orioles announce changes to business side

Orioles announce changes to business side
While it's been quiet on the baseball side this afternoon, with no news from the Orioles regarding players joining or leaving the 40-man roster, announcements were made on changes to the business side. T.J. Brightman has been hired as senior vice president and chief revenue officer. Jennifer Grondahl received a promotion to senior vice president of community development and communications, and Greg Bader has been promoted to senior vice president of administration and experience. They join...
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Bundy on his season: "It was an up and down year"

Bundy on his season: "It was an up and down year"
Dylan Bundy wasn't ready to reflect. He was polite and funny about it. But the weekend wasn't the proper time to think about his season beyond the unevenness of it. Get him back to Oklahoma first. Put him in a tree stand instead of a visiting clubhouse. Maybe that's the ideal setting for him. "You know how I am," Bundy said. "I don't look too deep into it right now until the season's over and you get home and then you're like, thinking about the season and how things went." Bundy...
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Orioles claim Cole Sulser off waivers

Orioles claim Cole Sulser off waivers
The Orioles didn't waste much time filling their 40-man roster again. One day after outrighting pitcher Chandler Shepherd to Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles have claimed right-handed reliever Cole Sulser off waivers from the Rays and slipped him into the vacant spot. Sulser, 29, made seven relief appearances for the Rays last month and didn't allow a run. He surrendered five hits, walked three batters and struck out nine in his first 7 1/3 innings in the majors. The Rays included Sulser on...
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Holt: "If we can compete in this division, we can smoke anybody"

Holt: "If we can compete in this division, we can smoke anybody"
A big chunk of the early offseason work being done by the Orioles involves the construction of the minor league coaching staffs. A task that already was in motion long before the Red Sox's walk-off win on Sunday. Making outside hires and reassigning individuals to a higher or lower affiliate. Changing a few roles in order to keep people in the organization while also making room for others or eliminating the job as it previously had been defined. Sean Berry is expected to come back to the...
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Orioles outright Shepherd to Triple-A Norfolk

Orioles outright Shepherd to Triple-A Norfolk
The Orioles have wasted little time in beginning their work on the 40-man roster. Less than 24 hours after losing their final game in Boston, the Orioles have outrighted pitcher Chandler Shepherd to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers, per multiple industry sources. That's one move. Shepherd started yesterday's game and lasted five-plus innings in a 5-4 loss to the Red Sox. He was charged with two earned runs and three total, the last scoring after Shawn Armstrong replaced him. Manager...
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More work to be done after Orioles conclude season

More work to be done after Orioles conclude season
BOSTON - With the Orioles unable to secure the last out yesterday in the ninth inning, a walk-off loss done in a bizarre manner being an appropriate parting shot in a summer filled with oddities, we're left to wonder what the heck is coming next. The offseason won't be stagnant. The 40-man roster will undergo a major reconstruction. It should be surrounded by yellow caution tape. Pitchers Alex Cobb and Josh Rogers need to come off the 60-day injured list, with the assumption that the latter...
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Orioles lose final game 5-4 in walk-off fashion (updated)

Orioles lose final game 5-4 in walk-off fashion (updated)
BOSTON - As the visiting dugout emptied this afternoon at Fenway Park, the 162nd game completed and players in a rush to eat, shower and catch their flights, there was no evidence of the grim atmosphere that carried so many of them out the door last year. The Orioles felt good about the effort and energy in 2019. They'd like to cut back on the losses, of course, but seem confident that it's only a matter of time. They understand the process and the patience that it requires. There's more...
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Hays on closing out his 2019 season (tied 4-4)

Hays on closing out his 2019 season (tied 4-4)
BOSTON - Austin Hays grounded out in his first at-bat this afternoon, on the last day that he's going to play baseball in 2019. Hays no longer is headed to the Arizona Fall League and can return home, as the rest of his teammates are doing after the last out is recorded. He's hopping on the team charter, taking with him a tremendous sense of accomplishment. "It's nice to be able to close this season on a good note and just try to carry this momentum into spring training next year," he said...
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Hays no longer ticketed for Arizona Fall League

Hays no longer ticketed for Arizona Fall League
BOSTON - The Orioles have changed their plans regarding outfielder Austin Hays, choosing to shut him down after today's game instead of sending him to the Arizona Fall League. Hays had been part of the Surprise Saguaros' roster until the Orioles learned that they could recall him this month prior to the assignment - a new rule implemented by Major League Baseball. The decision is based on Hays' at-bats, a total that's reached 415 with the 64 that he's accumulated with the Orioles. He's in...
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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - Jonathan Villar stays in the Orioles lineup this afternoon and is going to play in all 162 games. Villar is the first Orioles player to do it since Jonathan Schoop in 2016. Mark Trumbo is playing his final game with the Orioles, serving today as the designated hitter. Austin Hays is in center field and Austin Wynns is catching again. Stevie Wilkerson is in right field. Renato Núñez is playing first base. Chandler Shepherd, the former 13th-round pick of the Red Sox in 2014, makes...
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Orioles reach end of 2019 season

Orioles reach end of 2019 season
BOSTON - The final Orioles lineup of the 2019 season will be posted later this morning. We've moved past penultimate. The word is placed in storage until the next-to-last exhibition game unless someone is bold enough to break it out on the Wednesday of baseball's Winter Meetings. The lineup is going to include Mark Trumbo, playing his last game with the club and perhaps in his career. Anthony Santander is expected to sit again, having already completed his mission of getting back to the...
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